Description: The Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft is a derivative of the successful A310-300 and A330-200 airliners modified to perform air refueling and tactical transport missions in support of military forces around the world. The A330 MRTT is a three points tanker for refueling by means of wing-mounted pods and hose-and-drogue and/or advanced refueling boom systems. The fuel load is carried entirely in existing tanks in the wing and tail. This leaves the whole cabin free for some 272 seats in the A330 MRTTs troop-transport role, and its entire cargo hold free to carry military equipment on pallets or in containers.

The KC-330 designation was originally proposed by EADS and Northrop Grumman for the US Air Force's Air Refueling Tanker program. KC-330 designation was replaced by KC-30 in October 2005. On April 17, 2006 the Department of Defense granted the US Air Force with the authority to proceed with the KC-X tanker recapitalization program. Finally, the US Air Force awarded the new tanker contract to replace the KC-135 air refueling tanker fleet to Northrop-Grumman/EADS KC-30 aircraft on February 29, 2008. The US Air Force re-named the KC-30 aircraft as the KC-45A.

The US Air Force is expected to procure up to 179 KC-45As worth $40 billion. The $1.5 billion initial contract was funding four tankers under the System Design and Development (SDD) phase with five production options for an additional 64 tankers valued at $10.6 billion. The aim of the US Air Force with the KC-X tanker program is to support the United States global air power in the fields of air bridge, global Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and global strike. In addition, KC-X also provides personnel and equipment transport.

The KC-45A is expected to provide greater air refueling capability than KC-135 Stratotankers and can be refueled by other tanker aircraft. Besides, the new tanker will deliver the ability to refuel US Air Force and US Navy aircraft on every flight without aircraft modifications due to the hose-and-drogue and boom air refueling systems used by the United States military and allied armed forces. The KC-45A will be equipped with two wing pods supporting hose-and-drogue air refueling and one central advanced refueling boom system (ARBS). The aging KC-135 aircraft must be re-configured before flight on-the-ground to provide for one or the other aerial refueling systems. The new tanker will be equipped with defensive systems.